Ball check valve

Abstract: A one-way valve of simple construction comprises a body provided with appropriate bores and four legs. A ball is positioned between the legs which are then bent towards each other to retain the ball in the body.

Description: This invention is concerned with improvement in one way valves in pneumatic mechanisms. Glass machines are generally pneumatically operated, and there is a need for one way valves which are reliable in operation but yet cheap to manufacture and easy to replace. In US 4 100 935 there is described a one way valve for use in a heat pump system which comprises a body having a head portion adapted for locating the valve in a bore and comprising an axial bore, a sleeve portion extending from the head portion and comprising four legs separated by longitudinally extending gaps, a valve seating formed at the junction of the head portion and the sleeve portion around an air opening provided by the axial bore and a ball positioned in the sleeve portion and adapted to seat on the valve seating. The legs comprise inturned end portions which restrict movement of the ball away from the valve seating. The one way valve is essentially designed for use in an axial flow situation, in which it is permanently crimped in position in a pipeline. It is an object of the invention to provide an improved one way valve which will be cheap to manufacture and versatile in use. The present invention provides a one way valve for use in a pneumatic circuit comprising an integral body comprising a head portion adapted for locating the valve in a bore and comprising an axial bore, a sleeve portion extending from the head portion and comprising a plurality of legs separated by longitudinally extending gaps and a valve seating formed at the junction of the head portion and the sleeve portion around an air opening provided by the axial bore and a ball positioned in the sleeve portion and adapted to seat on the valve seating characterised in that the head portion is provided with a transverse bore in communication with the axial bore and the legs of the sleeve portion are deformed radially inwards thus being bent inwardly so that they restrict movement of the ball away from the valve seating. There now follows a description of a valve embodying the invention which description is to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a sectional view of a valve embodying the invention and in an open condition. Figure 2 shows a sectional view of the valve in a closed condition; Figure 3 shows a valve body of the valve in process of manufacture; Figure 4 shows a view of the valve body of the valve in the direction of the arrow A in Figure 3. The valve 2 is for use in a pneumatic circuit and comprises a valve body 4 having a head portion 6 which is adapted for locating the valve in an aperture, comprising a hexagonal head 8, a screw threaded portion 10, and a cylindrical portion 12 which extends from the threaded portion 10. The cylindrical portion 12 comprises a first axial bore 14 and a transverse bore 16 in communication with the axial bore 14. An annular recess 18 surrounds the portion 12 in the vicinity of the transverse bore 16. A sealing ring 20 is provided adjacent the recess 18 further from the screw threaded portion 10. A sleeve portion 22 of the body 4 extends from the cylindrical portion 12 of the head portion 6 and comprises a second axial bore 24 of greater diameter than the first axial bore 14. A circular valve seating 26 is provided at the junction of the sleeve portion 22 and the cylindrical portion 12, having an inclined seating face extending from the bore 24 inwardly to the bore 14 which provides an air opening. An end portion 28 of the sleeve portion 22 is split from a level spaced from the valve seating 26 to provide a plurality, in this case four, of legs 30 separated by longitudinally extending gaps 31. The legs are bent radially inwards to provide a part conical recess, and a ball 32 is retained in this recess between an air opening 33 provided by the spaces between the legs 30 and the valve seating 26. The ball is of a diameter intermediate between the diameters of the bore. Figure 1 shows the valve 2 in position in a block 34 comprising a transverse air passage 36 and another air passage 38, at right angles to the passage 36. The valve 2 is screwed into an appropriate threaded portion of the passage 38 so that the annular recess 18 is in line with the passage 36. If the pressure of air in the passage 36 is greater than that in the passage 38, the ball 32 is forced away from the seating 26 and air may pass from passage 34 to passage 36. If the pressure of the air in the passage 38, is greater than that in the passage 36 the ball 32 is forced onto the seating 26 thus to close the valve and prevent passage of air from the passage 38 to the passage 36. The valve 2 will operate in any orientation and comprises no springs. It is very economical in manufacture - a valve body 4 as shown in Figure 3 is made by conventional processes, the legs 30 being formed by slots 31 milled in the sleeve portion 22 of the valve body. A ball 32 is then positioned in the bore 24 and the legs 30 deformed radially inwards to provide the valve as shown in Figure 1. It has been found that the resilience of the legs 30 in the valve 2 reduces wear on the ball 32 in comparison with conventional ball valves, and the life of the valve 2 in situations of frequent and repetitive operation is very good.

Claims: A one way valve for use in a pneumatic circuit comprising an integral body (4) comprising a head portion (6) adapted for locating the valve in a bore and comprising an axial bore (14), a sleeve portion (22) extending from the head portion (6) and comprising a plurality of legs (30) separated by longitudinally extending gaps (31) and a valve seating (26) formed at the junction of the head portion (6) and the sleeve portion (22) around an air opening provided by the axial bore (14) and a ball (32) positioned in the sleeve portion and adapted to seat on the valve seating (26) characterised in that the head portion (6) is provided with a transverse bore (16) in communication with the axial bore (14) and the legs (30) of the sleeve portion are deformed radially inwards thus being bent inwardly so that they restrict movement of the ball (32) away from the valve seating (26). A valve according to claim 1 comprising an annular recess (18) in the vicinity of the transverse bore 16. A valve according to one of claims 1 and 2 in which the sleeve portion comprises four legs.

Inventors: SCHWEGLER RUDOLF, SCHWEGLER, RUDOLF
Applicants: EMHART GLASS MACH INVEST, EMHART GLASS MACHINERY INVESTMENTS INC.
Application year: 1994
Main classification: F16K15
IPC codes: F16K15, F16K17